O Stony grey soil of Mayo : how to sieve or remove stones

Grovey · Rank attained: Hazel Tree Joined: 01 Jul 2009 Posts: 11

Hi,
I have spent most of the season digging and picking out stones from a large veg patch, approx. 20m x 20m. I have been able to plant less than half of it as the work required to remove stones is so much that mostly that's all I get to do. I have already had it dug over and levelled by a machine and in my ignorance I thought that this would leave it nearly ready for cultivation, that was a foolish assumption !! Does anyone know of a machine or technique that I can use to remove all stones down to say 1/4" other than the picking by hand method.
Yours frustrated & sore-backed !! Sad

NoobGardener · Posted: Wed Aug 26, 2009 10:33 am Post subject:

It's annoying, isn't it. I've just gone through the same...me back was in bits.

Hire the local kids to come and do it for you

POPPY · Rank attained: Hazel Tree Joined: 11 Jun 2007 Posts: 14

No advice but lots of sympathy, we're in just inside the stoney border of Mayo as well. We picked and picked and picked stones but they just seem to breed over here!

We have three raised beds now that we put topsoil into and they're grand. The potato patch is relatively stone free now but that was a awful lot of work but they did break up the ground a bit and that soil is looking really good now.With all the stones we had we were able to build a wall around it.

michael brenock · Posted: Wed Aug 26, 2009 1:59 pm Post subject:

leave the stones there ,any stone greater than 5 cms (2 inches) can be removed. Stones are there for good soil structure, drainage and as a source of nutrients. Stones are constantly being eroded down into fine clay particles and roots of plants use them as anchors. I find that this is the biggest mistake that allotment holders make. by all means remove big rocks and concrete blocks..
michael brenock horticultural advisor (retired)